Chris W. wrote:

>Bear spray was not used because you cant fly with it...

Good point - I meant to bring that up in my last post.

Don Baccus wrote:

>Your guide is saying "pepper spray doesn't work because I don't trust it".
>He's not saying "it doesn't work because I've tried it". That's hardly
>a >strong argument.

Why bother with an argument when it will only be characterized as 'anecdotal'?

The difference here is I know the man and trust him completely in regards
to his experience, just as you trust Herrero. He may not be a 'recognized
expert' but that doesn't justify using terms such as 'tequila-laced
folkloric opinion'. This man is a professional in every respect of the
term, and is highly respected in the guiding community. Just because you
don't know him doesn't mean he is not. Unfounded generalizations and
attacks upon a person's character in a discussion such as this are unfair,
uncalled for, and less than helpful.

>...indeed Herrero pretty much suggests you concentrate on the fact that
>you're > more likely to die driving to wherever you're going :)

Also a good point. From the statistics I've seen concerning black bear
attacks and death, you have about the same number of odds of dying by
spider bite, more than double the chance of dying by dog attack, six times
more likely to die from a tornado, about the same odds for bees and
hornets, and over 14 times more likely to die by lightning strike. For
every death by black bear, there are roughly 90,000 homicides.

That should help us put bear attacks in a little better perspective.

>The bear should've been enjoying a deep sleep if it were winter, though I
>know >black bear sometimes get up and wander around for short periods in
>winter...

So do brown bears...it is unusual, but it does happen. There were reports
of a large brown bear out and about upper Eagle River Valley, Alaska in
December of '96. This may happen more than we know.

Andy Sorensen
Anchorage, Alaska
ajstudio at ptialaska.net